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Fracking industry wages war on communities CNBC story shows hydraulic fracturing industry employs ex-military "psy-ops" personnel in communities, makes use of U.S. Army Counter-Insurgency Manual November 8th -- The hydraulic fracturing industry has been shown previously to "divide and conquer" in order to drill within a community. But at an industry PR conference at the beginning of this month, representatives of Range Resources and Anandarko Petroleum inadvertently demonstrated the extent to which they're willing to go to gain community access: using military tactics developed to wage war against our nation's enemies. As CNBC revealed in a story today, the gas drilling industry actually recommends the use of the U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Manual in dealing with communities concerned about drilling's impacts. And they use ex-military "psy-ops" personnel as well. As our Texas/Gulf Regional Organizer Sharon Wilson put it, "they view this as an occupation." And occupiers, all protestations to the contrary, are not neighbors. Not even bad ones. More info:
Nuclear Power's Other Tragedy Stories From the Frontlines of Uranium Mining
The 1872 Mining Law does not even require uranium miners -- unlike all other extractive industries such as coal, oil and natural gas -- to pay royalties to taxpayers that could be used to clean up radioactive contaminated sites, says the report, Nuclear Power's Other Tragedy: Communities Living with Uranium Mining. The report pulls together alarming data on the lax standards and high number of safety violations at all active uranium mines and cleanup sites in the United States. It also tells the stories behind the numbers, with case studies of Native and Anglo-American communities that are struggling with uranium mining's legacy and concerned for the future. The report spotlights people working to help those affected by uranium mining's legacy, and to prevent future tragedies. More info:
Conflict at the Canyon: Feds' analysis of uranium mining near Grand Canyon relies on industry consultant who could cash in
In February, the Bureau of Land Management released a study of the options for lifting the moratorium on new uranium mining claims on 1 million acres surrounding the Canyon. The study gave short shrift to the risks of radioactive mine waste contaminating the Colorado River, which flows through the Canyon, relying heavily on a paper by the consultant. But just three days before release of the BLM study, an Arizona uranium mining conpany filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing a contract to pay the consultant $225,000 if the moratorium is lifted. The mining company would pay her for 61 mining claims she holds around the Canyon -- existing claims which are not afected by the moratorium, but could be more easily developed if it is lifted. More info:
Newmont at a crossroads At Cerro Quilish, it is faced with a clear choice between its declared principles -- and mining at any cost.
Apr 19 -- Environmental and human rights groups are demanding the company drop plans for a gold mine gold mine at Cerro Quilish, where strong community opposition blocked previous plans seven years ago. Cerro Quilish has spiritual significance for the region's indigenous people and sits atop the water supply for the city of Cajamarca. In 2004 thousands of Cajamarcans staged protests, clashing with police and blocking access to the proposed mine site for two weeks. The company later acknowledged that community concerns had not been adequately heeded, and in 2009 adopted a "commitment to the principle of free, prior and informed consent". Now, in contradiction to that commitment, Newmont has annonunced new plans to mine Cerro Quilish. More info:
The Dark Side of the Boom How Natural Gas Drilling in Texas Threatens Public Health and Safety
Apr 14 --State Sen. Lon Burnam of Fort Worth joined OGAP, other state advocacy organizations and community groups in releasing Flowback: How the Texas Natural Gas Boom Affects Health and Safety. The report finds that authorities either lack the resources to deal with the air pollution, water contamination and other problems that accompany natural gas production; are limited in their response by inadequate laws and regulations, or continue the long Texas tradition of favoring the oil and gas industry at the expense of citizens. More info:
Target Signs the Golden Rules 3rd largest US retail chain rejects dirty gold mining Mar 24 -- Today, Target sends a clear message to its consumers and suppliers that it wants nothing to do with dirty gold.
By signing the No Dirty Gold campaign's Golden Rules for more responsible mining, Target joins 72 other jewelry retailers worldwide in pledging to shun gold from irresponsible mining and seek cleaner sources of gold and precious metals. Due to the efforts of impacted communities around the world, to the No Dirty Gold campaign, and Golden Rules signatories, consumers are increasingly aware that the source of their wedding rings and cell phones is linked to human rights violations, forest destruction, toxic pollution, and loss of lands and livelihoods. But with Target's signing of the Golden Rules, we're a step closer to cleaning up dirty gold. More info:
Groups Work to Deny Funding to Taseko's Prosperity Mine Proposal Credit Suisse warned of project's unacceptable risks Mar 07 -- EARTHWORKS, MiningWatch Canada, and First Nations haved reached out to Credit Suisse to demonstrate that the Prosperity mine proposal in British Columbia is too risky to invest in.
Credit Suisse has loaned hundreds of millions of dollars to other Taseko projects. The problem? Prosperity would "push industrial development into the heart of the traditional territory of the Tsilhqot'in Nation," without the consent of the Tsilhqot'in National Government, threatening the forest, waterways and wildlife of an unspoiled region about 600 kilometers north of Vancouver. More info:
New Mexico Showdowns over Common Sense Drilling Protections Drilling rules under attack in court and legislature Feb 22 -- The battle over New Mexico's landmark Pit Rule -- the nation's most protective measure to safeguard citizens, water and land from hazardous oil and gas drilling wastes -- is building to a showdown in the courthouse and the Roundhouse (NM's Capitol). In December District Judge Barbara Vigil heard arguments from the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, which is seeking to overturn the Pit Rule in its entirety. Tomorrow (2/23) she will hear arguments from EARTHWORKS' Oil and Gas Accountability Project. Meanwhile, in the NM Legislature, no less than four bills or joint resolutions have been introduced that attack the power of state agencies to enact or enforce environmental rules. Each would seriously degrade the state's ability to protect the environment, and could lead to repeal of the Rule. More info:
Send Walmart's CEO a Valentine Tell him to stop greenwashing dirty gold
Tell him his Love, Earth jewelry has been exposed as greenwash. Join EARTHWORKS, the Western Shoshone Defense Project, and Great Basin Resource Watch, in urging Walmart to drop their "Love, Earth" line of jewelry until it actually follows the Golden Rules for responsible sourcing. More info:
National Geographic asks re Alaska's Bristol Bay: Urge the EPA to prevent mine waste dumping in the Bristol Bay watershed
"If built, a huge mine would transform Alaska's Bristol Bay region, possibly jeopardizing the world's richest sockeye salmon fishery" The article, accompanied online by an amazing photo spread showing the beauty, salmon, and water at stake, makes clear that the issue is not simply whether the mine can be built without harming the salmon (it can't). It is also that the infrastructure associated with the mine would fundamentally destroy what is now unsullied wilderness. Accompanying the article is an ad urging readers to help Protect Bristol Bay by signing a petition that requests the U.S. EPA to prevent a permit to dump mine waste in the pristine waters of the Bristol Bay watershed. More info: |
Community VoicesAntrim County, MI"State Could Force Property Owners to Allow Drilling" is a story about how one Michigan landowner fought to avoid being force pooled. NewsBehind Gold's Glitter: Torn Lands and Pointed QuestionsThere has always been an element of madness to gold's allure. Golden Gamble in Grass Valley: A Legacy of RiskAt the Idaho-Maryland Mine, up to four tons of ore would have to be processed to produce one ounce of gold. But the steps taken to scrape together that ounce pose what scientists call two of the mining industry's biggest environmental risks: cyanide contamination and acid mine drainage. A High Regard for the EarthDavid Maisel's Aerial Photos Re-Survey the Boundaries Between Ugly and Beautiful PublicationsEARTHWORKS Journal -- summer 2010Oil and Gas at your door Civil Society Letter to the Responsible Jewellery CouncilPredicting Water Quality Problems at Hardrock Mines -- an EARTHWORKS white paperA Failure of Science, Oversight, and Good Practice Our Drinking Water at RiskWhat EPA and the Oil and Gas Industry Don't Want Us to Know About Hydraulic Fracturing. (Full Report) Oil and Gas at Your Door? (2005 Edition)A landowner's guide to oil and gas development. |
